If there's anything more endangered in Baldwin County than bicyclists, it's the public school system.

Superintendent Dr. Faron Hollinger calls the financial crisis the 'most profound ... challenge to public education in history' of the state. Considering the state of public education funding in Alabama, that's a mouthful of doom.

From Guy Busby's story in today's Press-Register about the special summit meeting last night in Daphne:

The financial news Thursday was bad enough that one Baldwin County school board member joked that the only solution might be to secede from Alabama.

But the overall mood was somber and serious as a range of public officials gathered for nearly two hours to discuss the 27,000-student school system's dire funding shortages.

In an editorial board meeting yesterday, Hollinger called the financial crisis a "perfect storm" of bad news for Baldwin. State tax income has fallen about 7 percent this year, resulting in about $400 million loss of money for education.

In Baldwin County, the decline in tax income could approach 25 to 28 percent, according to state Revenue Commissioner Tim Russell.

The straw that breaks the camel's back is the state's equity program to aid poorer school systems. While enduring these severe cuts, Baldwin County has had to increase its contributions to the "share the wealth" program.

No wonder there was talk of secession. Baldwin County can't afford this state anymore.

What cuts will be made to balance the cash-strapped budget? Bus drivers, nurses, office aides, teachers, programs, and extracurricular activities are all on the table. Whatever hard decisions are made, students are ultimately the ones hurt by budget cuts.

Nobody wants to talk about raising money through taxes. People down here would rather eat dirt than fund a school properly.

As we all know here in Alabama, the only thing that will actually get people's attention is to threaten football. Will it come to that? Keep your eyes on the road.